Admissions Interviews

Just as hard as it is to look outside in the middle of winter and imagine tulips popping up in nearly two months, it may be hard to comprehend that less than one year from today, current high school juniors will have submitted all of their college applications. These last few months of your junior year involve critical steps that can to the most selective colleges and universities, so make sure you’re prepared. I can’t stress enough how important it is to plan ahead when preparing for the college admissions process.

The admissions interview is a great chance to add another personal touch to your application and gives you an opportunity to have your questions answered by an admissions officer or alumnus of the school. For seniors, the college interview is one of the final steps you’ll take toward application success, while for juniors, the interview is an excellent opportunity for you to get to know more about a school and to meet a representative of the school who you can maintain contact with throughout the college admissions process. While interviews are optional at many schools, at IvyWise, we recommend students always have an interview if given a chance.

Spring is prime college visit time! Many families will be hitting the road to visit students’ top-choice schools this semester, so it’s important to ensure that students (and parents!) are making the most of their time on campus.

The college admissions process is a huge undertaking, and submitting your applications is a great achievement. Regardless of your admissions decisions, you should feel proud and celebrate this accomplishment. You can finally study for your next test, go to the movies with your friends, or read for pleasure without that little voice in your head (or perhaps a parent or IvyWise counselor) reminding you that you should be working on your college applications.

Imagine being asked to the prom, but instead of a thoughtful invitation to accompany a charming peer, you are instead informed that you will be the 10th person asked and if the others decline the offer, then you will be invited. Would that make you feel special or important? Well, this is how many college admissions offices can feel.

There are so few places in the college application process for a student’s voice to be truly heard. Sure there’s the essay and email communication with an admissions representative, but what makes a college admissions interview such a valuable opportunity is the chance to talk about yourself in a less structured and less formal way. It’s an opportunity to share your story the way you want it to be heard.

The college interview is one of the final steps you'll take toward application success. It's also one of the most daunting. Whereas the essay gives you the opportunity to write and revise endlessly, the interview is a one-time deal.

By Lisa Gache, Founder & CEO of Beverly Hills Manners As a junior at Beverly Hills High School, I vividly remember spring vacation back east with my father to tour a handful of liberal arts colleges that piqued my interest in the New York and Boston area. I walked each campus with the wide-eyed enthusiasm of a toddler eager to soak up the local flavor, get an up-close and personal look at the student body, peruse the dorms, sample the college cooking, and envision myself in each setting. My memories, however, of the actual interviews are a little less clear.